The latest news from REDWatch

REDWatch is a community group which covers the Sydney suburbs of Redfern Eveleigh Darlington and Waterloo. These suburbs make up what the NSW Government generally refers to as Redfern - Waterloo. The area has been subject to various NSW Government interventions since the early 2000's and had its own Government Minister from 2004 to 2011. Interventions have included removing planning responsibilities from City of Sydney Council and having place specific interventions on human services, infrastructure and employment. This history is captured on this website. Currently the focus is on UrbanGrowth's Central to Eveleigh and the proposed redevelopment of the Waterloo Public Housing Estate. Below is the latest news from REDWatch about our area and its issues.

Further to the Change.org. online petition we circulated a couple of weeks ago we have had multiple requests from local residents and supporting agencies to develop a paper petition, which we have now done with the support of the Local Member for Newtown, Jenny Leong MP. Please find attached our petition to the Honourable Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of NSW in Parliament requesting to restore support services for public housing tenants in Redfern and Waterloo. Jenny Leong MP is able to raise the question in NSW Parliament once 250 signatures are tabled. Please return signed petitions to the office of Jenny Leong MP, Member for Newtown, at 383 King St Newtown. You can also call (02) 9517 2800 or email jenny.leong@parliament.nsw.gov.au with any questions or comments. Alternatively you can bring signed petitions to the Factory and we will send them on your behalf. Thank you in advance for your continued support of the Redfern and Waterloo public housing communities.

On 31 October 2018, FACS announced that Mission Australia had won the tender to provide the replacement service for the long standing TPRS and place based HCP programs. Mission Australia will run the new Tenant Participation and Community Engagement (TPCE) across the entire state from December 3 2018 after the existing TPRS and HCP programs end.

The NSW Government has announced the conclusion of the competitive tender process to find a development partner to deliver mixed social, affordable and private housing in Elizabeth Street, Redfern under the nation's first mixed tenure Build-to-Rent model. Below is the text of the media release issued by Minister Goward.

Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) have advised that they will extend all feedback on Waterloo Options testing until 19 November. This includes feedback via the surveys both on-line and return of hard copies of the surveys. LAHC will also continue with informal drop-ins session through Waterloo Connect for members of the community that wish to still go through information on the options at the Waterloo Connect Office. LAHC will communicate this to the community through the C+ website and outreach notifications which we are continuing to still undertake around the estate.

REDWatch is very concerned about the loss of services for Redfern and Waterloo public tenants that will happen with the ending of the Tenant Resource Participation Service (TPRS) and the Redfern Waterloo based Housing Communities Program (HCP). We have organised a petition to bring attention to the problem and to seek a response from FACS.

Options testing has begun with the release of additional information on each options released on the first day of testing. Below is REDWatch's guide to options testing and our concerns about the process that was emailed to REDWatch's members and supporters lists.

This kit has been prepared for community groups and local service providers so they can conduct their own consultation / study session on the Waterloo options. The kit includes a cover sheet with links to supporting materials; A Group Discussion Guide for facilitators; An template for recording issues raised in the discussion and a summary sheet. The kit is designed for agencies, churches, community groups and anyone who wants to sit down with some friends and talk about the options proposed by LAHC for the redevelopment of the Waterloo public housing estate. The document is in Microsoft Word.

To assist people prepare for the survey we have provided the questions so you can see them before you respond. Before you start the survey, please make sure you are able to readily view the three redevelopment options. For example, you may want to download the Options from the website and print a copy, or keep a copy of the Waterloo Redevelopment Options brochure handy whilst you work your way through the survey. Alternatively, you can attend a community day or visit Waterloo Connect to view large printed copies of the options. The document is a 1 Mb Microsoft Word document.

This is the Waterloo Redevelopment Activities Calendar covering the Waterloo redevelopment options testing in October 2018. Please note two sessions had not been finalised when this calandar was published.

In this September 2018 newsletter LAHC released some details of option testing. It includes dates for two Community Information days, a call to register to participate in focus groups and the link to an online questionnaire. It makes no reference to the proposed posting of the options support materials that has been requested.

Presentation for Session 4: Thursday 6 September, 9am - 12pm - Heritage; Arts & Culture. This was one of four technical baseline study sessions held for the Waterloo Estate Master Plan by Communities Plus. A common introduction to each session was [provided and this is listed separately.

Presentation for Session 3: Monday 3 September, 10am - 2pm -Traffic & Transport; Noise & Air Pollution; Sustainability. This was one of four technical baseline study sessions held for the Waterloo Estate Master Plan by Communities Plus. A common introduction to each session was [provided and this is listed separately.

Presentation for Study Session 1: Wednesday 29 August, 1pm - 4.30pm - Housing Diversity; Social Sustainability. This was one of four technical baseline study sessions held for the Waterloo Estate Master Plan by Communities Plus. A common introduction to each session was [provided and this is listed separately.

Presentation for Session 2: Friday 31 August, 10am - 12.30pm - Urban Forest; Open Space. This was one of four technical baseline study sessions held for the Waterloo Estate Master Plan by Communities Plus. A common introduction to each session was [provided and this is listed separately.

In the lead up to the study sessions LAHC released some brief summaries of the baseline technical studies. This is the document titled "Waterloo State Significant Precinct Baseline Investigations - Key Study Summaries
July2018"

On 21 August 2018, Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) released the "Waterloo State Significant Precinct Baseline Investigations - Key Study Summaries July 2018". The document was released via the registration process for a series of study sessions on the baseline studies running between 29 August and 8 September 2018. As the studies have not been made publically available by LAHC, REDWatch is making these studies publically available on the REDWatch website. Registration for the five study sessions can be made at www.eventbrite.com.au/o/communities-plus-17612744184